User profile for user: NCPM311
NCPM311 Author
User level: Level1 5 points
I have several icons in launchpad that I can't get rid of, old printer for example I no longer have.
I tried dragging to trash, and it won't stay in the can. I tried using the option key to select and drag, didn't work, the x in the corner of the won't even come up.
What to do?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Earlier Mac models
Posted on May 22, 2023 6:02 AM
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User profile for user: EdFritz
EdFritz
User level: Level1 10 points
Posted on Jun 29, 2023 1:31 PM
How to delete apps from Launchpad when there's no x icon:
I just figured out that when you have an uninstalled/deleted application but the icon is still in the Launchpad and it doesn't give you an 'X' when you hold the [option] key, there are two ways to delete them:
METHOD 1: (The app is actually still on the system somewhere)
- Drag the icon from the Launchpad to the App Dock.
- If the icon goes into the dock right-click on it. (If not, try Method 2)
- Select 'Options'
- Select 'Show in folder'
- Delete the app or delete the whole folder if that seems appropriate.
METHOD 2: (The app is absolutely deleted from the system)
- Click on the icon in the Launchpad.
- If the app is really deleted the Launchpad will close and you'll be returned to your home screen.
- Open Launchpad again.
- The Icon should now be shaded and covered with a big '?'.
- Hold the [option] button.
- The icon should now have an 'X' and can be deleted as normal.
I had upgraded from Mojave to Monterey and had a lot of applications I needed to delete. Many didn't have an uninstaller nor offered me the [option]-X in the Launchpad, so I was forced to delete them from the Applications folder. But, most left their icons in the Launchpad and were not able to be deleted.
I tried cleaning apps and searched all over the internet, but didn't find any workable answers. As it turns out, some applications save themselves in non-standard locations (user, library, etc) and are not easy to find. That's why Method 1 above works. But, for reasons I do not know, some apps leave their icons (shortcuts) in a secret place that Launchpad accesses. When you click on them they can't find their linked files so the macOS tags them as broken with a '?'. The icon attributes are also changed and can now be deleted - This is where Method 2 works.
That's it! I hope this works for you as well as it did for me. Good luck!
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User profile for user: EdFritz
EdFritz
User level: Level1 10 points
Jun 29, 2023 1:31 PM in response to NCPM311
How to delete apps from Launchpad when there's no x icon:
I just figured out that when you have an uninstalled/deleted application but the icon is still in the Launchpad and it doesn't give you an 'X' when you hold the [option] key, there are two ways to delete them:
METHOD 1: (The app is actually still on the system somewhere)
- Drag the icon from the Launchpad to the App Dock.
- If the icon goes into the dock right-click on it. (If not, try Method 2)
- Select 'Options'
- Select 'Show in folder'
- Delete the app or delete the whole folder if that seems appropriate.
METHOD 2: (The app is absolutely deleted from the system)
- Click on the icon in the Launchpad.
- If the app is really deleted the Launchpad will close and you'll be returned to your home screen.
- Open Launchpad again.
- The Icon should now be shaded and covered with a big '?'.
- Hold the [option] button.
- The icon should now have an 'X' and can be deleted as normal.
I had upgraded from Mojave to Monterey and had a lot of applications I needed to delete. Many didn't have an uninstaller nor offered me the [option]-X in the Launchpad, so I was forced to delete them from the Applications folder. But, most left their icons in the Launchpad and were not able to be deleted.
I tried cleaning apps and searched all over the internet, but didn't find any workable answers. As it turns out, some applications save themselves in non-standard locations (user, library, etc) and are not easy to find. That's why Method 1 above works. But, for reasons I do not know, some apps leave their icons (shortcuts) in a secret place that Launchpad accesses. When you click on them they can't find their linked files so the macOS tags them as broken with a '?'. The icon attributes are also changed and can now be deleted - This is where Method 2 works.
That's it! I hope this works for you as well as it did for me. Good luck!
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User profile for user: BDAqua
BDAqua
User level: Level10 240,833 points
May 22, 2023 6:42 AM in response to NCPM311
Are you saying selecting it & pressing Option doesn't show the little x?
- Open Mac Launchpad.
- Press the Option (⌥) key.
- When you will see the “X” next to unneeded icon, click on it.
- Confirm the deletion to remove an icon from Launchpad.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3213755?answerId=15773234022#15773234022
User profile for user: ku4hx
ku4hx
User level: Level7 23,532 points
May 22, 2023 3:16 PM in response to jeffreythefrog
Then it's true, my wife says I'm a 11yo.
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User profile for user: jeffreythefrog
jeffreythefrog
User level: Level6 12,212 points
May 22, 2023 6:40 AM in response to NCPM311
you can try and drag the icons to the very right of the launchpad screen and hold it there until the second page of launchpad appears and drop it there. they won't be removed, but they won't be on your primary launchpad page. and you can move anything back and forth in-between your launchpad pages (as many pages as you need) in the same manner.
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User profile for user: D.I. Johnson
D.I. Johnson
User level: Level7 22,415 points
May 22, 2023 11:54 AM in response to BDAqua
Having read this thread, I can confirm a similar circ*mstance on my Catalina 10.15.7 MBP.
These and other apps don't display the X when the Option key is pressed in Launchpad: CCC, Daisy DIsk, EtreCheck Pro, Geekbench 5, MalwareBytes, etc.
At first blush these all appear to be apps that were not installed via App Store download, but downloaded from the developer websites.
And of course, macOS apps will not allow this anyway.
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User profile for user: ku4hx
ku4hx
User level: Level7 23,532 points
May 22, 2023 3:15 PM in response to NCPM311
Having been shown the error of my ways, and not read any added posts, when I want to delete a icon (an app) from the Launchpad, I open Finder, go to the Applications folder and drag the app to the trash.
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User profile for user: ku4hx
ku4hx
User level: Level7 23,532 points
May 22, 2023 7:12 AM in response to NCPM311
Click, hold, drag up until you see "Remove" then let go. Best to do this over an empty desktop space less your Mac think you just want to move the iron to a different location.
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User profile for user: NCPM311
NCPM311 Author
User level: Level1 5 points
May 22, 2023 9:25 AM in response to BDAqua
That's what I'm saying. X's appear for some of the icons, but not all. No X's appear on the icons I want to remove.
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User profile for user: NCPM311
NCPM311 Author
User level: Level1 5 points
May 22, 2023 9:26 AM in response to ku4hx
This didn't work on my iMac.
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User profile for user: BDAqua
BDAqua
User level: Level10 240,833 points
May 22, 2023 10:06 AM in response to NCPM311
Are the ones with no Xs Apple Apps?
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User profile for user: ku4hx
ku4hx
User level: Level7 23,532 points
May 22, 2023 11:09 AM in response to NCPM311
Restart and retest. If you can't do as I suggested, you likely need to reinstall your OS.
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User profile for user: jeffreythefrog
jeffreythefrog
User level: Level6 12,212 points
May 22, 2023 11:13 AM in response to ku4hx
sorry, but, what you suggested removes an app from the dock, not the launchpad.
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User profile for user: ku4hx
ku4hx
User level: Level7 23,532 points
May 22, 2023 12:16 PM in response to jeffreythefrog
Yep, you're right.
I'm 77 as if that matters.
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User profile for user: jeffreythefrog
jeffreythefrog
User level: Level6 12,212 points
May 22, 2023 12:51 PM in response to ku4hx
age only matters if it matters to you. :)
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User profile for user: chavaughn80
chavaughn80
User level: Level1 8 points
May 30, 2024 12:39 PM in response to NCPM311
Thank You.
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How to remove icons in Launchpad
